Is there anything of which I need to be aware when bringing a radio (KH1) for possible SOTA activations while I am in Italy (Cortina area) later this month? Any documentation I should bring, any requirements?
Thank you!
73 Paula k9ir
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This seems to explain succinctly what you need to do.
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I’m sorry, Andy and all, my original post is ambiguous. I have the CEPT docs ready. My concern is physically bringing a radio to Italy. I’ve heard some bad stories of radios getting confiscated or the owner being “held up” for an enormous fee when traveling to other countries. I want to know what I should expect when traveling to Italy.
Tnanks.
73 Paula k9ir
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You won’t have any problem traveling to any EU country with a radio; many of us are travelling to other EU countries (including Italy) several times a year with radios, antennas and other equipment in hand luggage without any issue. I’d be more worried travelling to countries where ham radio can be very higlhy regulated (e.g. some African countries).
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Hi Paula,
If the KH-1 has an EC approval sticker (Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU and EMC Directive 2014/30/EU), you should be fine bringing the equipment into any EU country or the UK. Check with Elecraft if there isn’t an EC number sticker on the radio.
Possibly, more important these days is if you intend to bring a lithium battery (any variety iIo, Polymer, Iron phosphate etc). As of January 1st next year all air transported Lithium batteries need to have a maximum of 30% charge in them. This regulation is not yet in place however if you follow that rule now, you will get “brownie points”. Also, the size of the battery in Watt Hours should be marked on the battery (voltage x amp-hours). In any case, the battery needs to be in your hand baggage NOT your hold baggage.
73 Ed.
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That’s annoying. Often I’ll just chuck 3 x 3S Li-ion batteries in my carry on luggage and not bother with a charger.
I wonder how they intend to measure this?
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Hi Paula,
W6LOR and I had no trouble traveling to Rome from the US this past June with a KX2 and a couple of HTs. There was brief interest from the security screening agent flying out from Rome FCO in one of the HTs. (an FT-60 - maybe it looks vaguely military to some). We handed the security agent a folder with the CEPT paperwork and license copies and after a brief consultation with their supervisor, all was fine.
Have fun and safe travels!
Cheers and 73,
Mike K6STR
PS - keep the paperwork in your carry-on!
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That only applies to cargo. Not items in carry on, personal possession etc.
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Pseudo-panic over.
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Hi Ed, and thanks.
From what I’ve read, the directives appear to apply only to those who are distributing/importing/manufacturing equipment in the EU markets. I am doing none of those.
If it has been interpreted to apply to users of such equipment, such as hams from another country, then I guess I’m not activating ever in the EU, as NONE of my gear has any such stickers. I had checked the ARRL website earlier for requirements but never saw this mentioned; wonder why, as it’s a show stopper.
If anyone has experience dealing with these approvals in the context of operating within the EU countries, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!
73 Paula k9ir
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Paula, I placed stickers on my batteries that didn’t already state w/h on them.
As for everything else, well nothing really. On the odd occasion my bag has been opened, examined and swabbed, after being scanned. They’re looking for explosives, not EMC compliance.
Stuff I’ve carried through airports in the last 14 years:
Elecraft KX2
QRP Labs QMX and QDX
FT-857d
3S li-ion batteries, both home made and purchased
4200mAh and 8400mAh LiFePO4 batteries
Lots of different wire antennas, coax, chokes, baluns, un-uns etc
With handhelds, I always take from a reputable manufacturer, eg Kenwood, Yaesu
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Thanks! The battery in my Elecraft KH1 (the same as is used in the KX2) does have the specs listed, so that would be compliant. But if the radio needs the EC approval sticker, I don’t have that. Sounds like that sticker is not a focus point when passing through customs and security checks, though. I just don’t want anything confiscated because I missed some requirement.
73 Paula k9ir
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Didn’t think KH-1’s were EU compliant. Aren’t they only available from Switzerland, or has that changed since the launch.
Chances of a customs guy taking your radio away from you is 10,000:1 against.
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I seem to remember reading somewhere that the KH-1 had to be shipped to the Elecraft dealers in Europe as a kit to be assembled by dealers before sale (whatever assembly involves - put board in case and attach knobs perhaps) because the EC certification had not been got in time for the first batches?
Ignore the 30% charge rule - having re-read the document, I agree with Andy, that this is a regulation for commercial bulk shipping. Having the Wh marked on the Lithium battery and not putting it into your hold baggage applies though as the border controls (in my experience) do check for Lithium batteries or equipment with them installed.
73 Ed.
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Yikes, this query opened up more cans of worms than expected ;-)!
Per the Lutz website ELECRAFT KH1 – Lutz Electronics, Schweiz, the KH1 “is available only as a kit… We therefore only supply the complete kit from stock and offer you the option of building the kit into a finished device.” There is another option for “Construction of the kit into a finished device and short test of basic functions.” I’m guessing the kits and built option are where the EC stickers come into play.
As MM0EFI pointed out, under these circumstances, the chances of someone confiscating the radio or stopping me from bringing it in are nil.
73 Paula k9ir
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For EU please read EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway and Lichtenstein.
In theory, if the type of item needs CE marking after a certain date, then if it has no CE mark it cannot be used in the EU. ISTR the date for radios was 1st Jan 1996. i.e. any radio I want to use in the EU needs a CE mark if it was manufactured after 1/1/1996. I checked and my 1997 VX1 is CE marked as are my 2023 vintage KX2 and IC705.
I can use a pre 1/1/1996 radio without a CE mark as it did not need one when manufactured. So my 1977 TR-7010 is not CE marked but is legal to use in the EU.
KH-1 is not yet CE marked. It cannot be sold in the EU. The EU dealer is modifying the KH-1 so they do not need a CE mark so that the following applies
“For the purposes of point (c) of the first subparagraph, kits of components to be assembled by radio amateurs and equipment made available on the market and modified by and for the use of radio amateurs are not regarded as equipment made available on the market.”
That paragraph in quotes gives us hams amazing exemption from CE marketing requirements.
i.e. you can use a KH-1 from the Swiss EU dealer in the EU but not a US one.
If you think I’m wrong then tell me.
The chances of confiscation in EU are very low but you may find someone is actually doing their job checking things rather than the usual security theatre we get. For the record I’ve flown between EU<>EU and EU<>USA with some of the following in my carry on. Yaesu VX1, VX-170, FT-817, Icom IC80-AD, Elecraft KX2 all CE marked. QCX minis (kits) not CE marked.
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Is the CE marking for whether it can legally be sold, or whether it can legally be used? I would have thought the former, especially for amateur radio equipment. After all, I can legally use my home brewed equipment and it doesn’t have a CE mark.
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It means used. But I did quote the special exemption we have in my last post: radio hams have to have either built it, or modified it.
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Just add a CE mark. It’s what the Chinese do. No need to check it actually meets the spec.
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Or tell anyone asking you built it from a kit.
Both are lies but one is hard to prove whilst falsely marking it CE can result in a fine of up to €6000. Failing EM compatibility can result in a fine of up to €24000. I’d say I built it. 
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